Hypoestes plant named ‘G14158’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hypoestes plant named ‘G14158’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large dark green and red purple bi-colored leaves; and relative tolerance to high light conditions.

Botanical designation: Hypoestes phyllostachya.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G14158’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hypoestes plant, botanically known as Hypoestes phyllostachya and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G14158’.

The new Hypoestes plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Hypoestes plants with attractive leaves and high light tolerance.

The new Hypoestes plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Hypoestes phyllostachya, not patented. The new Hypoestes plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors on a single plant within a population of plants of the mutation selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hypoestes plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since Aug. 15, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Hypoestes plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hypoestes have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G14158’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G14158’ as a new and distinct Hypoestes plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large dark green and red purple bi-colored leaves.     -   5. Relatively tolerant to high light conditions.

Compared to plants of the mutation parent selection, plants of the new Hypoestes differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the mutation parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hypoestes have thicker leaves than plants         of the mutation parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more tolerant to high light         conditions than plants of the mutation parent selection.

Compared to plants of Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘G14160’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,842, plants of the new Hypoestes differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hypoestes are not as vigorous as plants of         ‘G14160’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more freely branching than         plants of ‘G14160’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hypoestes and ‘G14160’ differ in leaf color         as plants of the new Hypoestes have brighter red purple-colored         splotches than plants of ‘G14160’.

Plants of the new Hypoestes can also be compared to plants of Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Splash Select Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hypoestes differ primarily from plants of ‘Splash Select Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Splash Select Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hypoestes have thicker leaves than plants         of ‘Splash Select Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more tolerant to high light         conditions than plants of ‘Splash Select Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Hypoestes plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hypoestes plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘G14158’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter in 10.8-cm containers in a corrugated polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Hypoestes production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 6,790 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘G14158’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Hypoestes phyllostachya, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type: By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at             ambient temperatures about 18° C. and soil temperatures             about 22°.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             ambient temperatures about 18° C. and soil temperatures             about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four             weeks at ambient temperatures about 18° C. and soil             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four to five             weeks at ambient temperatures about 18° C. and soil             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to             white to creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounded plant form;             freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially             forming at every node; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 18 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm             to 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Strength:             Strong, sturdy. Aspect: Primary branches are mostly upright;             secondary lateral branches are about 30° to 45° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; somewhat             glossy. Color: Developing: Close to between 144A and 146A.             Developed: Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length, largest leaves.—About 9.75 cm.         -   Width, largest leaves.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse with truncate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Sinuate; moderately undulate.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Rugose, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close             to NN137A; interveinal splotches, close to 60A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 147A;             interveinal splotches, close to 186D. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Ground color, close to between 147A and             NN137A; interveinal splotches, close to 60A; midvein             proximally, close to N186A and distally, close to 147A;             lateral venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Ground color, close to 147A variably tinged             with close to 187A; interveinal splotches, close to 186D;             venation proximally, close to 187A and distally, close to             147A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to N186A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 187A. -   Flower description: To date, flower initiation and development have     not been observed on plants of the new Hypoestes. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hypoestes have been     observed to have moderate tolerance to Xanthomonas campestris. To     date, plants of the new Hypoestes have not been observed to be     resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Hypoestes plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hypoestes have been     observed to tolerate low temperatures about 4° C. and to be suitable     for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hypoestes plant named ‘G14158’ as illustrated and described. 